Brampton, ON – As the weather flicked a switch on fall golf, the Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship took to the prestigious course at Brampton Golf Club for a 1:15 p.m. shotgun start this afternoon. With just 18-holes of competitive stroke play to determine the 2022 champions, Cam Hreljac and Chris Lee battled high winds to emerge victorious.
Taking home the championship title with a stellar round of 4-under (67), Cam and Lee, who also won the 2003 Ontario Men’s Better-Ball, battled the field to win by two strokes ahead of a tight leaderboard. Right behind the leaders at 2-under were a pack of four duos claiming silver medals. Greg Hotham and David Greenaway (Barrie Country Club), John Francis and Richard Turner (Rosedale Golf Club), Gawain Robertson and Adnan Moussaoui (Cataraqui Golf & Country Club), and lastly, Regan O’Halloran and Jerome Chinner (Coppinwood Golf Club), all came up just short with scores of 69.
In the post-win interview, the winning pair said with big smiles, “we’ve been playing together for over 30 years and are notorious ham n eggers. We hit the ball far and in play all day and gave ourselves many chances at birdies.” They added the wind played a significant factor, “16 was crazy, anything into the wind was a 3-4 club difference. It was tough staying warm out there.”
Golf Ontario would like to thank the players, rules officials, staff and members for supporting the 2022 Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship. To Brampton Golf Club and your team, thank you for being such excellent hosts and welcoming us once again. Lastly, thanks to our sponsors and partners; Baka, Adidas, Taylor Made, Golf Talk Canada, Play Golf Myrtle Beach, Humber College, StrackaLine, HUB International, BioSteel, Golf Genius, Modern Golf, Dormie, Durham Artificial Grass, Foresight Sports Canada, Nikon, and Sport Travel.
To view the 2022 Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship leaderboards, visit our Golf Genius page.
About the Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship
The Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship was first contested in 1982. It is open to players aged 55 and older as of the tournament date. The Oakdale Golf & Country Club graciously donated the championship trophy. Notable champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Famers Nick Westlock and Stu Hamilton.
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario
To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
Media contact:
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario; PMacKellar@gao.ca
Brampton GC Welcomes Back the 40th Senior Men’s Better-Ball September 22nd
Golf Ontario
Brampton, ON – The last stop on September’s championship schedule play is the Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship, returning again from Brampton Golf Club. Happening this Thursday, September 22nd, 128 players will take to the beautiful course in hopes of ending the golf season with some strong play.
With a large field, it’s difficult to say which pairing will have the upper hand heading into the 40th playing of this event. With twosomes like home course favourites Jeff Watson and Gary Parker (Brampton GC), 2021 champions David Wilson and Eamonn McConnell (Toronto GC), past Senior Men’s Amateur Champion David Greenaway and his partner Greg Hotham (Barrie CC), along with many more, there’s incredible talent right across the tee sheet. However, with just 18-holes of competitive stroke play, the winning duo will need consistent play and strong teamwork to walk away with the coveted hardware.
Head Golf Professional Mike Long said, “the club is very pleased to continue to host and support this championship. The golf course is in great shape. The greens are smooth, and the rough is fairly thick.” The meandering fairways into a river valley below will be a “fair but challenging test of golf that will challenge all competitors.”
Play gets underway with a shotgun start at 1:15 pm. Visit our golf genius page here for more information about the championship.
About the Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship
The Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship was first contested in 1982. It is open to players aged 55 and older as of the tournament date. The Oakdale Golf & Country Club graciously donated the championship trophy. Notable champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Famers Nick Westlock and Stu Hamilton.
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario
To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
Media contact:
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario; PMacKellar@gao.ca
Tournament contact:
Rob Watson, Manager Competitions, Golf Ontario rwatson@gao.ca
Sandy Billyard and Michael Jackson capture 2014 Sr. Men’s Better Ball title
Peter MacKellar
ST. THOMAS— As the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) season comes to an end, the final senior men’s event took place on Sept. 11 at the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club. There were 55 teams of senior men, 55-years-old and over, that took to the course in damp, fall-like conditions for the Senior Men’s Better Ball Championship.
With many great teams taking part, it meant there would be many great scores. By the end of the day there were 16 under par in total. None was greater than that of Collingwood’s Michael Jackson and Welland’s Sandy Billyard who posted the low round at seven-under (65). The difference for the duo came on the ninth hole when Billyard, from Hunters Pointe Golf Course, hit a hole-in-one on the par three.
“It really seemed to get us going,” said Jackson. “Up until then we had made eight straight pars. Sandy played a great round of golf today.”
That seemed to galvanize the team as they went on to play the back nine five-under and finished the day seven-under (65).
“Number nine was the nicest shot I hit all day!” said Billyard. “It was a four-iron, 180 yards up hill. It landed just in the right spot and rolled in like a putt. Mike made a clutch birdie on 17 and that was the winner for us.”
It is the first time that either Jackson, Georgian Bay Club, or Billyard have won the Senior Men’s Better Ball title.
“The win means a lot to me because I haven’t won a provincial event since 1973,” added Billyard. “I’m thrilled! For Mike it is just another notch in his belt.”
“It is always nice to win a tournament but it was especially nice to win with Sandy. We didn’t make a bogey all day and just played a solid game,” said Jackson.
Finishing second was a team from the host St. Thomas Golf & Country Club, Stephen Brodie and John Scott. The two used their hometown knowledge of the course to their advantage finishing six-under (66).
Rounding out the top five was a tie for third between three teams. Richard Evoy (Sault Ste. Marie Golf Club) & Tom Hossfeld (Hylands Golf Club), Ian Montgomery (Weston Golf & Country Club) & Richard Lockwood (London Hunt and Country Club) and Kerry Short & Les Westlake (St. Catharines Golf and Country Club) all ended the day at three under (69).
The Senior Men’s Better Ball Championship was first contested in 1982. The trophy was donated by the Oakdale Golf & Country Club, who annually host the GAO’s Men’s Better Ball Championship. Notable champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Famers Nick Westlock and Stu Hamilton. 2014 marks the first year that St. Thomas Golf & Country Club has hosted the event. The GAO would like to thank St. Thomas Golf & Country Club for their support of amateur golf in Ontario.
